Crystal Clear

Clever Inc.

About Crystal Clear Award

Discloses privacy policies with clear, detailed descriptions of how user data is used and who owns it.

Provide an overview of the project, practice or product that your video represents, and how your work encompasses the principles and ideals of the award that you're applying for.

Clever is an edtech platform that gives students a single sign-on to all of their learning applications and helps schools automatically keep those applications up-to-date with their student information systems. Ask most education companies about student data privacy, and they’ll try to duck the question. After all, what’s the upside, when another startup comes under fire for their handling of privacy every week?

We think about this differently at Clever, where we’re proud to stand behind our privacy policies. Clever co-founder Dan Carroll’s experiences as a former district tech director led him to hate the incomprehensibly opaque privacy policies that accompany school software. We wanted Clever to be a different type of company from the start – one that always put schools in control of their data. As a result, Clever’s privacy principles are crystal clear: Clever only collects data that schools explicitly share. Clever never shares data, except when instructed by a school. Schools always retain ownership of their data.

In our privacy policy, we use clear, friendly language to explain Clever’s approach to student data, including how it’s collected, used, and shared. Additionally, the Clever product emphasizes school control; schools decide what to share and with whom, and can revoke sharing – or delete their data entirely – at any time.

As part of Clever’s commitment to data privacy, Clever only partners with applications who make a written commitment to FERPA compliance. That way, when a school uses an application on Clever, they know that student data will never be used for marketing or non-educational purposes.

While data privacy hasn't been a sexy topic in our industry, Clever’s rapid adoption – now used by 1 in 5 schools in America and 150+ applications – shows just how powerful a clear and transparent approach to data privacy can be.

Explain the long-lasting impact of what you've presented in this video, and provide any qualitative or quantitative data that supports this impact.

Today, Clever powers safe digital learning for over 12 million students, in partnership with over 150 education applications. But as an application platform, we value Clever’s unique opportunity to improve industry best practices around student data privacy; in fact, we consider it a responsibility. Our goal is to be a leader of an EdTech industry that values student privacy even more than the schools, parents, and students we serve.

With a clear privacy policy, Clever delivers transparency that we know schools want, and we’re empowering schools to receive the same treatment from their other technology providers. Clever is also using its unique place as a platform between schools and apps to foster more conversation around student data privacy. For example, Clever recently convened a Student Data Privacy Roundtable with iKeepSafe, so that district leaders could have their voices heard, and to make industry leaders partners in building better solutions. We are also pushing the student privacy conversation forward in the national spotlight. In a recent op ed in the New York Times, Clever CEO Tyler Bosmeny discussed how data can be used and secured, emphasizing the need to offer transparency and control to schools and other stakeholders.

People in the technology world often talk about “bank grade” (or “military grade”) security as the gold standards -- our hope is that one day, we’ll be part of an industry that sets “education grade” as the new bar for security and privacy.

I live outside of the United States. Can I still apply?

Yes, any international applicants may apply. Any international applicant who wins will receive one roundtrip ticket from the point of entry into the United States. For example, if someone from Kenya wins in a category, and the winner flies to Miami, EdSurge/Digital Promise will pay for one roundtrip flight from Miami to Mountain View.

How many awards are given out?

What happens if I'm nominated for an award by someone else?

When someone nominates you, we will send you a form that invites you to fill out 2-3 other questions and submit a video explaining your qualification for the award. If you would like to apply for another award, as opposed to the award you were nominated for, check out our list of awards.

Can I apply for more than one award?

Yes, you may apply for as many awards (in your respective category) as you’d like. You may only apply to each award once, and you must fill out a separate application for each one. Finally, you can only win one award.

How long should my video be?

What will winners get for winning?

Finalists will win a free round-trip flight and hotel accommodations to the Bay Area, a seat and dinner at the Digital Learning in Innovation Awards Gala on November 20, and an official DILA Trophy and digital badge. Your work will also be featured on the EdSurge and Digital Promise sites.

Do you have a rubric for the application?

What are the important dates in the application process?

Applications will open on April 15 and remain open until 11:59 PM PST on August 24. Judging will commence on September 1, and winners will be announced in late October. Winners will attend the Awards Gala on November 20.